Like many other educational entities across the country, the Medford (Ore.) School District found itself in a financial crunch recently. Needing to trim $200,000 from the athletic department budget, administrators proposed cutting the football and boys' and girls' basketball programs at the middle school level, as well as eliminating all varsity assistant coaching positions. But that all changed when coaches in Medford came up with a solution of their own.

Rather than cut support to the varsity programs and opportunities for middle school students, the district's coaches voted--by an overwhelming margin--to accept a reduction in their stipends. Middle school coaches took a 20-percent cut, while high school coaches accepted a 15-percent reduction. Along with a 50-percent increase in student-athlete participation fees, it was enough to cover the budget cut.

"Our coaches have said all along that it's all about the kids, and this proved it," says Doug Jantzi, Director of Secondary Education and Athletics for the district. "Sure, the paycheck is helpful, but that's not why they coach. It's about their love and passion for the sport and finding a way to keep students plugged into school."

It didn't take any arm-twisting to convince coaches to take the pay cut, either. Jantzi says the idea was put to a vote, and only three coaches were opposed. "For the three who were against it, I think it was more a minority voice vote, meaning they knew it would pass but they didn't like it and wanted to put their voice out there," he says.

And what about next year? "This was only a one-year agreement," Jantzi says. "We'll start a new budgeting cycle in January 2010, and hopefully we'll know a little more about the economy and state funding by then. I don't know if coaches will be agreeable to do this a second year, but I'd like to think they would."